We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Translocation and chronic effects of microplastics on pea plants (Pisum sativum) in copper-contaminated soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics affect pea plants grown in copper-contaminated soil over a full growing season. They found that the combination of nanoplastics and copper reduced crop yield, impaired nutritional quality, and that nanoplastic particles were taken up and transported throughout the plant tissues. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in polluted agricultural soils may compound existing threats to crop productivity and food safety.
Microplastics (MPs) released into soil environments, along with the existing pollutants in soil, may have adverse effects on plants. However, the chronic effects of MPs in soils contaminated with heavy metals on crop plants remain unidentified. This study aimed to investigate the chronic effects of MPs (polystyrene, 20 nm) on the reproductive and nutritional status of pea crop plant (Pisum sativum) grown in Cu- (40 mg/kg) and MP-contaminated soils (40, 20 mg/kg). The crop yield reduced in all groups, with an evident decrease in the complex exposure group (comprising MPs and Cu). Moreover, significant changes in plants were identified regarding the weight, color, amino acids, and protein content of peas. Nutrient content in beans increased by MP exposure in single and complex exposure groups. Cu accumulation did not differ in the presence and absence of MPs. Additionally, MPs that infiltrated into incomplete casparian strips during root formation translocated into aerial parts via the apoplast pathway along the cell walls of the vascular bundle. Therefore, long-term exposure to MPs in soil can significantly affect plants while collective application of Cu and MPs imposed severe damage. The changes in the crop quality and nutrient contents may in turn affect human health through the food chain.
More Papers Like This
Evidence of parental transfer of nanoplastics in pea (Pisum sativum) plants
AI summary Read the abstract
In a striking finding, researchers showed that pea plants exposed to nanoplastics passed those particles to their seeds, and the next generation of plants grown from those seeds still contained nanoplastics even in clean soil. The nanoplastics were found in the vascular tissue of both generations, and the second generation showed reduced crop yield and altered nutrient content. This parental transfer of nanoplastics through plants raises serious concerns about long-term contamination of food crops across growing seasons.
Mitigating potential of polystyrene microplastics on bioavailability, uptake, and toxicity of copper in maize (Zea mays L.)
AI summary Read the abstract
This study found that polystyrene microplastics in soil actually reduced copper toxicity in maize plants by binding to the copper and making it less available for plant uptake. While this might seem beneficial, it means microplastics are changing how nutrients and metals move through agricultural soil in unpredictable ways. The findings highlight that microplastic contamination in farmland can alter the chemistry of soil in complex ways that affect crop nutrition and food safety.
The Effect of Microplastics-Plants on the Bioavailability of Copper and Zinc in the Soil of a Sewage Irrigation Area
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined how different concentrations of microplastics affect the bioavailability of copper and zinc in sewage-irrigated soils, finding that microplastics can alter heavy metal mobility and plant uptake, with implications for food safety in contaminated agricultural areas.
Uptake, Distribution, and Impact of Micro- and Nano-Plastics in Horticultural Systems Using Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as a Model Crop
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how micro- and nanoplastics are taken up and distributed in lettuce grown in horticultural systems, finding that nanopolystyrene exposures significantly inhibited leaf and root development in a concentration-dependent manner. They optimized extraction methods for quantifying microplastics in soil and developed a synthesis procedure for nanoplastic test particles. The study demonstrates that plastic fragments from horticultural materials can accumulate in soil and affect crop growth, raising concerns about food safety.
Different effects and mechanisms of polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics on the uptake of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) by lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics affect the uptake of heavy metals by lettuce grown in contaminated soil. They found that nanoplastics increased the accumulation of copper and zinc in lettuce leaves, while microplastics had the opposite effect for some metals. The study reveals that plastic particle size plays a critical role in determining whether microplastics worsen or reduce heavy metal contamination in food crops.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.